[78-L] Mignon Record

[David Lewis]

This is a curious small record, a Mignon label record made in Germany. The selection, "Mr. Thomas Cat" was recorded for Edison in 1901 and I think the piece appeared in print ca. 1899. The "Empire Military Band" sounds English, and indeed, note the odd slow down of the tempo when they reach the minor strain.

I have never seen a Mignon record; the Colonel describes it as a 6" or 5" record, but the title gives it as a 4"; the shot is so out of focus that I can't read the label. My questions are, who manufactured these, from when to when, and is the recording English, German or American? Also the Colonel dates it to 1905, a poster states it's from the 'teens; the piece was republished, incidentally, in 1909.

I am aware that Columbia made several phonographs called the Mignon, though as far as I know these were cylinder only until 1907.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAOzPTmFBKY

Uncle Dave Lewis
uncledavelewis at hotmail.com